Kemin acquires Canadian animal feed distributor

The acquisition will expand the Kemin’s presence in the Canadian pet food and animal feed market.

Kemin Industries, a global ingredient supplier, has announced the creation of a Canadian division and will hold a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on January 18, 2018, at its new location in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.

Kemin has acquired the assets of its long-time distributor Agri-Marketing Corp. Agri-Marketing was founded in 1973 in Mont-Saint-Hilaire and has provided exclusive distribution and manufacturing services for Kemin products in Canada.

Agri-Marketing has been distributing Kemin products since its inception more than 35 years ago. Kemin expects a seamless transition for customers, as Agri-Marketing sales employees become Kemin employees. The new Kemin location will focus on serving the animal nutrition and health market, as well as the pet food and rendering industries. Kemin will look to grow its business through offering an expanded portfolio.

"With this new location in Canada, we are increasing our efforts to better serve our current customers as well as explore new opportunities for our product and services to improve the quality of life for people and animals in Canada," said Dr. Chris Nelson, president and CEO of Kemin, in a company press release. "Kemin continues to grow, and having a larger presence in Canada is a logical next step for our global expansion."

Increasing market presence through acquisitions

Since early 2017, Kemin has continued to increase its global reach with acquisitions and with the addition of new locations. In March, Kemin acquired Algal Scientific, a Michigan-based company specializing in beta-glucan technology for antibiotic alternatives for animals. In April 2017, Kemin opened an office and manufacturing facility in Lipetsk, Russia.

In August 2017, Kemin opened a worldwide headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa. The new headquarters completed a five-year, US$125.5 million overall investment.

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